Clothespin



y 2, H. B. SMITH 2,206,733

CLQTHESPIN Filed April 12, 1938 24 2a 25 25a 25 24a 24 24a INVENTOR fioalflrd .B. 500% Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4- Claims.

10 expensive yet rugged and attractive package for clothespins.

Yet another object is to provide an improved method of preparing and packaging clothespins.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the clothespin package, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a clothespin embodying the reinforcing means of this invention. 20 Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 illustrates one form of staple, while Fig. 6 shows another type of staple adapted for use Withthis invention.

The clothespins shown in Fig. 1 are arranged 35 on a supporting stick 10 to Which the prongs of each pin frictionally adhere. The stick Illis preferably made in two parts, Hl-a and I (I -b: for

a purpose hereinafter to be described. As illustrated, alternate pins H have their prongs ex- 30 tending in the same direction, whereas the prongs of the other set of alternate pins extend in the oppositedirection to those of the first set, the same being designated by the numerals l2.

, A wrapper for holding the pins contiguous one 35 another in a direction longitudinally of the stick includes a length of clothes line I3 of appropriate size for use with the pins of this package. The

,;line 13 is wrapped around the pins as illustrated in Fig. 1. Each end of the clothes line is held 40 in place by being tucked into the portion of the slot of the end pin which lies between the edge of the stick and the pin body at the inner end of the slot. In order that such end pins may not be raised out of alignment with the others, the

5 adjacent portion of the stick is preferably recessed as shown at Ill-c, the recess or notch being of a width substantially equal to thediameter of the clothes line, and the length of such notch or recess being sufiicient to receive the tucked in en 50 of the clothes line. i l l l The contiguous sides of. the pins are not straight, but are shaped to provide interlocking projection and recess portions, the projections being designated by the numerals I4 and the l 55 cooperative recess portions bythe numerals I5.-

In this way, when thepins are laterally clamped on the stickthere is then little or no chance of any pin being withdrawn from the, package in a direction transversely of the stick, because the recess and projection portions i5 and M preclude 5 it A wrapper of transparent cellulose sheeting I9 or the like is arranged to provide a snugly fitting envelope enclosing the previously described assemblage, and this wrapper I9 may also assist 10 the clothes line [3 in. clamping the pins contiguous oneanother in a direction longitudinally of the stick. The paper envelope also prevents the possibility of any pin being slid oif the stick even if improperly made and regardless of its friction fit on the stick and any interlocking action with laterally contiguous pins. ,Other convenient ways of retaining the ends of the clothes line may be used, for example, common pins stuck laterally through the ends of the line and into contiguous strands, or paper labels may be pasted over the ends: of the line to hold them in place.

A length of line is chosen such that when'wound it just substantiallycovers the stick and no more.

To assemble the package shown in'Fig. 1 the .25 pins II are arranged on the portion lll--b of the stick in spaced relation andthe pins l2 arranged on the portion Ill-41 of the stick when the two portions of the stick are separate from one another. After being so mounted each plurality of pins may'have their heads or body portions dipped in a body of liquid paint or other appropriate coating. material to provide a more attractive looking package and also to provide a neater pin since it is the head or body portion of the pin which is subjected to the greatest handling and likelihood of becoming soiled. This dipping just referred to only extends down to about Where the prongs begin and preferably not beyond. After the heads have been coated and dried, the two 4 portions of the stick Ill-a. and. ill-b are moved together to form the pins each mounted onboth portions of the stick. The clothes line is then wrapped around the pins to clamp them in position with the lateral interlocking means being 45 efiective to prevent withdrawal of a pin in a direction transverse to the stick. In Fig. 2 itwill be seen how the prongs H of each pin frictionally contact the two portions of the stick which are received within the slot of each pin.

Fig. 3 shows an appropriate type of reinforcing meansior the clothespin whichis adapted for use in the package of Fig. 1 since the reinforcement occupies a comparatively small space on thesurface of the clothespin and thereforethis the pin body surface.

indicated type of reinforcement is not adapted to block or impede the fitting of the pins in Fig. 1, since the reinforcements shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive comprise only a pair of staples 23 shown as lying contiguous the body portion 2a of the clothespins. While the exposed portion of the staple is preferably not countersunk into the wood, in order to keep from deforming and weakening the fibres, nevertheless the adjacent portions of the prongs which may contact with the staples when used on the pins of Fig. 1, may, if desired, be provided with slight recessed portions into which the exposed'part of each staple be received to provide additional lateral inter-= locking and also to provide the intended flt, since it is not necessary for the pins of Figs. 1 and: 2 to be reinforced in the manner shown in Figs. 3

to 6 inclusive.

The clothespin shown in Fig. 3 is similar to the ordinary pin except that its prongs 2| are somewhat longer than usual in order to be more flexible without at the same time increasing the danger of the pin splitting. The usual slot 212 is formed between the prongs; 2i and the reinforcing staples 23 are shown in Figs. 3 and i as being driven into the pin body longitudinally in- Ward :3. small amount beyond the end of the slot 22. The legs or prongs 24 of each staple preferably extend into the pin body as shown in Fig. 4 and the bridging portion 25 of each staple is substantially longer than the width of the slot 22. In event the prongs of the pin are spread apart any tendency for the pin to split at the end of the slot 22 is reduced because the wood fibres are clamped together or held against separation by the staple prongs 24 and their connected bridging portion 25. In event the wood fibres might yield a little and tend to separate, the bridging part 25 of the staple would be placed in tension and thus oppose the tendency to split. From Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the staples are preferably symmetrically arranged with respect to the slot 22, the staple prongs 24 being offset slightly both longitudinally and laterally from the inner end of the slot 22. Fig. 4 also shows how, when one staple is placed in positionfirst, or when both staples are simultaneously driven into the pin body there may be a tendency for the ends 25 of the prongs to engage and be bent aside to provide a better interlocking effect upon the wood. The staple prongs overlap only a short distance though if desired they may be made to overlap a greater distance.

When. a staple of the type shown in Fig. 5 is driven into the pin body far enough so that the central part of its bridging portion 25 is contigucos the pin body,it should then be desirable to provide a different type press or hammer head for rounding or arching this bridging part 25 and driving'the prong portions Mgcornpletely home. While the use of a staple of the form shown in. Fig. 5 is objectionable in requiring at least two hammer or pressing operations, it possesses one advantage in that as the bridging part 25 is arched there is a slight tendency for it to become elongated, or in other words, it is placed under a slight initial tension. This, in turn, places the wood fibres embraced by the staple under a slight initial compression, which is desirable to still further minimize the possibility of splitting.

The preferred form of staple is shown in: Fig.6 as being provided with a pro-arched bridging portion 25, curved, to substantially the shape of This type of staple does not have the same tendency to prestress the wood nor to be prestressed itself, but this form of staple is desirable in that no two operations are needed for driving it home.

Among the advantages of the reinforced clothespin may be mentioned its greater yieldability with safeness against splitting. For example, with a four inch clothespin, the prongs and their included slot instead of being made only two and a quarter inches inay be, safely made two and three quarters inches long. Greater flexibility for the prongs of a clothespin is desirable since there should be less danger of tearing delicate and light weight fabrics which might.

be held thereby. There is no tendency for'the prongs to spread under the effect of the metal reinforcement. The slight lateral recessing for the prongs of the clothespin described in connection with Fig. 1 also assists to some extent in making the prongs more flexible. The package of Fig. 1 need not necessarily include the clothes line, since the paper envelope may be tightly fitted about the package to securely hold the pins against displacement either laterally or longitudinally of the stick. The stick, of course, may be in one or two parts as described. If desired, the flat faces of the stick may be slightly beveled, just enough to cause the prongs to: betterengage the stick over their substantially contiguous surfaces. Instead of the oppositely driven staples, a wire might be passed through the pin body in preformed holes located where the staple prongs now are shown to be and this wire passed into and out of each such hole and the ends of the wire possibly twisted enough to place the wire under an initial tension and the wood under a slight compression.

Possibly the advantages of this invention may be better appreciated by briefly pointing out how it distinguishes from certain prior art patents. For example, Wells 128,934 has a wire wound around the pin body above the prongs. Such a wire is either in the way or else some unusual shape like that illustrated may be necessary. In contrast to this construction the present invention has the reinforcing means on the outside of the pins for only a comparatively short angular distance, substantially less than the 360 degrees shown by Wells. Another objectionable prior art suggestion has been the use of wire reinforcements wound around the prongs. This reduces the flexibility instead of increasing it as the pres ent invention is adapted to accomplish. Still another type of suggestion is exemplified by Johnson: 917,950, or McSwan 1,486,099 (Fig. 1), but the objections to these suggestions is the danger of the bent wire lying onl the surface to become easily bent in case the wood fibres tend to expand. In other words the surface exposed or head portions of these latter reinforcing ideas is not adapted to have tension applied to them. The bridging portions of the staples of the present invention may take a tensional stress in event the prongs of the clothespin are flexed the place where a split might occur from spreading the prongs of the pin, places the reinforcement close to the place of fracture and gives less likelihood of fracture than if the prongs of the .staple or other reinforcement were more remotely located. When remotely located the fibers of the wood might be compressed or the bridge of the staple become loose if the prongs of the staple do not possess a good fit into the wood. Having the staple prongs substantially parallel to one another and also to the inner faces of the pin prongs makes it possible for the staple prongs to offer substantially uniform resistance to splitting all along their length. When the staple prongs are parallel, their necessary thickness may place the wood fibers under a slight compression.

I claim:

1. A wooden clothespin having integral prongs providing a slot therebetween, and a reinforcing staple driven into said pin adjacent but beyond the slot and spanning a greater width of the pin than the slot, substantially symmetrically arranged with respect to said slot, the legs of the staple being spaced apart to an extent such that when the staple is driven home with its bridging portion contiguous the surface of the pin, the bridging portion of the staple is placed under tension whereby the portion of the pin embraced by the staple is placed under a slight compres sion adjacent the inner end of said slot.

2. A wooden clothespin. having a longitudinal slot forming prongs, and means to reduce the danger of the pin splitting longitudinally from the prongs spreading, said means including a generally U shaped staple having substantially parallel legs connected by a bridging portion spanning the planes of the slot walls of the pin body adjacent the end of said slot, the staple legs being substantially parallel to the planes: of the slot walls, whereby the staple may be driven into the pin quickly and easily by impact upon the bridging portion of the staple.

3. A wooden clothespin having a longitudinal slot forming prongs, and means to reduce the danger of the pin splitting longitudinally from the prongs spreading, said means comprising a generally U shaped staple having paralled legs connected by a bridging portion spanning the planes of the slot walls of the pin body adjacent the end of said slot, the staple legs being sub:- stantially paralled to the planes of the slot walls and located longitudinally beyond the end of the pin slot at about equal distances transversely from the slot wallsand beyond the end of said walls, the bridging portion of said staple being not more than about three times the width of said slot, the prongs of the staple gripping the body of the pin-substantially uniformly longitudinally of the prongs.

l. A wooden clothespin having a longitudinal slot forming prongs, and means to reduce the to the planes of the slot walls, another substantially similar staple driven into the pin substantially opposite the firststaple, the end portions of the staple legs over-lapping and lying substantially contiguous within the pin body.

HOWARD B. SMITH. 

